French courses in South of France
at Alliance Française Aix-Marseille
Live the French language through culture, people and daily life
Learn more about our courses
Plan a group stay
Discover the South of France
Learn French while enjoying the South of France way of living!
The Alliance Française Aix-Marseille offers high-quality French courses in South of France, combining language learning with full immersion in Provence and the Mediterranean region. Click on the course title to visit its page and register.
Our French courses
Our intensive French courses are designed for international students who want to make rapid and lasting progress while studying in the South of France. At Alliance Française Aix-Marseille Provence, these programmes offer a high number of weekly lessons combined with small groups and experienced native teachers, ensuring personalised support and effective learning. From beginner to advanced levels (A1 to C1), our intensive courses follow a communicative and action-based methodology that helps students gain confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Studying in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille also means benefiting from a unique cultural environment, where daily life becomes a natural extension of the classroom.
Our beginner French courses are specially designed for students with little to no prior knowledge of French who want to build a solid foundation in the language while living in the South of France. These classes follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, starting at level A1, and help you develop core language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Taught by experienced native French teachers in small, supportive groups, the programme focuses on practical communication and everyday vocabulary so you can quickly feel confident using French in real life. Combined with cultural activities in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, our beginner courses are ideal for international learners who wish to start their French journey in a vibrant and immersive environment.
Our summer French courses offer international learners the opportunity to improve their French in a vibrant and dynamic environment in the South of France. Held Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with 20 hours of instruction per week, these courses are open to all levels from A1 (beginner) to C1 (advanced). Experienced teachers use a dynamic task-based approach aligned with the European Framework of Reference for Languages to help you develop your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. In addition to classroom learning, we organise two cultural activities per week so that you can practise your French in real-life situations while discovering the rich history, art and lifestyle of Provence and its surroundings. Whether you are here to boost your language skills, prepare for future studies or simply enjoy French culture under the Mediterranean sun, our summer programme offers a complete and enjoyable immersion experience.
At Alliance Française Aix-Marseille Provence, our group language stays are designed to combine quality French learning with deep cultural immersion in the South of France. Whether you choose Aix-en-Provence or Marseille, your group will benefit from tailored French courses taught by experienced teachers, with levels available from A1 to C1 and programmes adapted to your objectives and schedule. Groups can join our 20-hour-per-week intensive French classes based on their language level, or opt for customised timetables and content to best meet their needs. We take care of organising accommodation options — from homestays with local families to student and hotel residences — to ensure a comfortable and immersive experience close to the school. Beyond the classroom, we can arrange a variety of cultural activities designed to help your group discover the rich heritage of Provence and Marseille, from historical sites to regional specialties.
The Mediterranean way of life
Life in Southern France follows a Mediterranean rhythm that strongly shapes daily habits. Much of everyday life takes place outdoors, encouraged by the climate and the organisation of cities and neighbourhoods. Cafés, markets, terraces and public spaces are central meeting points where people naturally spend time, talk and interact.
Social relationships play an important role in daily routines. Conversations are part of everyday life, whether with neighbours, shopkeepers or colleagues, and time is often structured around shared moments rather than strict schedules. Meals are not only practical moments but social ones, extending into long lunches or evenings spent together.
This way of life creates a natural environment for cultural immersion. Language, customs and social codes are experienced continuously through ordinary interactions. Rather than being something observed from the outside, culture becomes part of daily life, shaped by people, places and routines.
Through these lines, you will be able to immerse yourself into southern French landscapes, cities and lifestyle. Enjoy !
Immersed by culture
Aix-en-Provence is a city where culture is part of everyday routines rather than a separate activity. Museums, music, literature and public debates naturally coexist with daily life, creating an environment where cultural references are present in ordinary interactions. The city has a long intellectual tradition that continues to shape its atmosphere today.
A typical lifestyle à la Provençale
Daily life in Aix, like locals name their city, follows a Provençal rhythm. Cafés, markets and small streets structure social life, encouraging regular encounters and conversations. The city’s human scale makes it easy to move between neighbourhoods, cultural spaces and public areas, reinforcing a sense of continuity between private life and the shared urban space.
Surrounded by postcard landscapes
The surrounding landscape provides a discreet but constant backdrop. Nature is close, light plays an important role in daily perception, and the environment contributes to a calm and balanced way of living. Rather than dominating the experience, the landscape supports a lifestyle centred on culture, social interaction and everyday French life.
Movement, exchange and urban life
Marseille is a city shaped by movement, exchange and openness. Daily life unfolds in the streets, neighbourhoods and cafés, where different cultures, accents and generations interact naturally. The city’s port history and Mediterranean position continue to influence how people live, speak and relate to one another.
Social life and cultural diversity
Social life in Marseille is direct and expressive. Conversations happen easily, public spaces are actively used, and daily routines are marked by a strong sense of community. Food, markets and neighbourhood life reflect the city’s diversity, making everyday interactions rich and varied rather than uniform.
The sea as part of everyday life
The sea is not a backdrop but a constant presence in daily life. It structures the city’s rhythm, from morning walks along the coast to evenings spent outdoors. In Marseille, French culture is lived in a contemporary, open and dynamic way, rooted in everyday experiences rather than tradition alone.
Living French through daily life
Living in Southern France means experiencing language, culture and daily life as a whole. This environment naturally supports long-term immersion, practice and cultural understanding.
This experience can take different forms, depending on where and how you choose to live it.
For many, this immersion also happens through learning French as part of everyday life.
